All of us here at the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales wish you, your families and friends a peaceful and blessed Christmas. Here's a Christmas message from Father Chris Thomas, General Secretary of the Bishops' Conference, giving an experience-led, spiritual reflection on the nativity, the Holy Family and the powerful expression of the Father calling us back to him through the Christ child.

This week, up and down the land, charities will be making generous provision for the poor and the forgotten. Such compassion is a hallmark of the Christmas season, alongside our desire to celebrate expansively – and, perhaps, very expensively. Sadly, many stories will remind us of the extreme poverty of the millions of refugees from Syria and elsewhere who have suffered a loss of life and hope. Originally published on telegraph.co.uk.

Pope Francis on Thursday authorised the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate a decree regarding a miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu).

Cardinal Vincent Nichols has hosted His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales at Archbishop's House, Westminster, for a meeting with Syrian and Iraqi Christians and representatives of those suffering persecution in the Middle East.

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales has visited Archbishop's House, Westminster to meet with Syrian and Iraqi Christians and representatives of those suffering persecution in the Middle East North Africa region. Dr Harry Hagopian, consultant to the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales, tells us about the meeting.

This morning, Tuesday 15 December, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor featured on 'The Chris Evans Show' on BBC Radio 2. His 'Pause for Thought' reflection asks us to "think about mercy and forgiveness because it is the wellspring of joy and serenity and of peace".

The official English translation of the final document of the Synod of Bishops for the October 2015 meeting titled: "The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and in the Contemporary World" is now available to read and download.

On Tuesday, 8 December, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Francis solemnly inaugurated the Jubilee Year of Mercy with the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Pope Francis has expressed that the Year of Mercy has an evangelising intention. His desire is that the year ‘will be steeped in mercy, so that we can go out to every man and woman, bringing the goodness and tenderness of God! May the balm of mercy reach everyone, both believers and those far away, as a sign that the Kingdom of God is already present in our midst!’ (Bull of Indiction 5)

MENA Consultant Dr Harry Hagopian pays tribute to the late Metropolitan Abraham of the Coptic Orthodox Church who died after a long battle with illness on 25 November 2015. He was ordained Archbishop of Jerusalem on 17 November 1991.

Cardinal Nichols said in advance of the debate on Syria: "Effective action is necessary to stop the grave harm being inflicted by ISIS on civilians. While indiscriminate violence is never justifiable, specific use of force to protect the vulnerable is defensible, if it is combined with sustained diplomatic and humanitarian efforts. As Pope Francis has said: where there is unjust aggression, it is licit to stop the aggressor."

On 1 December 2015 the Human Transplantation (Wales) Act 2013 comes into effect. This law will in principle allow doctors to take organs from people who die in Wales even if they have never expressed any wish to donate and even if their families strongly object to this. Comment from the Anscombe Bioethics Centre.

The Bishops of England and Wales have approved the new translations of the texts to be used for Confirmation and Marriage which have now been given their recognitio by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments. These will be published in January 2016 and will be used from Easter 2016.

Christopher Pearson has been appointed as the new Chair of the National Catholic Safeguarding Commission (NCSC). He replaces Danny Sullivan who stepped down from the role in July 2015 in order to spend more time with his family. Chris was previously Lay Vice Chair of the NCSC and has been in an Acting Chair position since July 2015.

On the second Sunday of Advent - 6 December 2015 - parishes in England and Wales are invited to celebrate Catholic Bible Sunday. This year’s theme is ‘Embracing the Gospel of Mercy’. Catholic Bible Sunday provides an opportunity for everyone to give thanks for the gift of the Bible, and also invites a deepening of understanding of its message.